Blende

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /blɛnd/

Definitions

1. A mineral form of zinc sulfide commonly found in ore deposits and known as sphalerite
2. A type of sulfide mineral mainly composed of zinc and sulfur, often mined as a source of zinc
3. A natural mineral consisting primarily of zinc sulfide and recognized as the main ore of zinc

Etymology: The name of this mineral, zinc sulfide, comes from a German miners' word meaning "deceiver." Miners in the Harz and other German ore districts noticed that this ore looked a great deal like galena, the lead ore that was prized for its silver content. Zinc sulfide, however, yielded no lead, so the ore disappointed anyone who had hoped for a profitable find. The German word "Blende," from "blenden" ("to deceive" or "to blind"), captured that frustration. The mineral's name thus records a practical grievance rather than a scientific description. Miners used the term for an ore that tricked them into expecting one metal while delivering another. Because the mineral was hard to tell apart from galena by appearance alone, the name became a warning to prospectors who had to be careful about what they were digging up.

Synonyms: sphalerite, zinc ore